Improvement in wrenches



it l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- GEO. O. TAFT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WRENCHES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,932, dated June 26, 1866..

4in the line x a', Fig. 1.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate correspending` parts.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in that class of' screw-wrenches in which the screw is tted in a step connected with the ferrule of the handle. The ordinary wrenches ot' this kind are very liable to have the terrules ot' the handles forced back on the latter' under the. action ofthe screw in adjusting' the movable jaw ot' the wrench to its work, and this displacement otl the t'errnle renders the screw liable to slip out from the step, a contingency which frequent-ly occurs, and which iny invention fully obviates.

A represents the tang of a screw-wrench; B, the rectangular portion of l he wrench on which themovable jaw C works, and D the fixed jaw on the end ot' the part B. E is the screw by which the movable jaw O is adjusted; F, the thumb-wheel on the screw. These 'parts are of ordinary construction, and therefore do not require a minute description.

Gr is a wooden handle secured on the tang A by a nut., a, on the outer end of the latter, the ferrule H being.,r provided with a flange, b, on its upper end, which bears against a shoulder, c, on the part B ot' the wrench. (See Fig. 2.)

The outer end ofthe terrule H bears against a wooden shoulder, d, on the handle G, as usual,

andwithin the ferrule H there is placed a nut,

I, which is fitted on a screw, ax, cut ou the tang A, said nut being screwed up'against the inner side ot' the flange b of the ferrule, as shown in Fig'. 2.

The ferrule H has a lip or projection, J ,-projecting laterally from it, to serve as a step for the inner end of the screw E.

From the above description it will bev seen that the nut l serves as a bearing,l forthe ferrule, and et't'ectually prevents the ferrule, under the action of the screw E, crushing the shoulder i d, so that the ferrule will be forced back to admit of' the screw slipping' out from the step J. This occurs very frequently with the ordinary wrenches., a difficulty which the nut I fully obviates.

Having' thus described `my invention, lclailn as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The arrangement ot' the nut I, in combination with the handle G, tang A, and ferrule H, with its shoulder band step J. constructed and operating inthe manner and for the purpose herein described.

GEO. C. TAFT.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BANcEoE'r, GEO. F. NEWTON. 

